RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Better to exist: a reply to Benatar
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 875
OP 876
DO 10.1136/jme.2007.023986
VO 34
IS 12
A1 S D Baum
YR 2008
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/34/12/875.abstract
AB A recent exchange on Benatar’s book Better never to have been between Doyal and Benatar discusses Benatar’s bold claim that people should not be brought into existence. Here, I expand the discussion of original position that the exchange focused on. I also discuss the asymmetries, between benefit and harm and between existence and non-existence, upon which Benatar’s bold claim rests. In both discussions, I show how Benatar’s bold claim can be rejected.